Page 151 of A Winter By the Sea
“Well, well, well. A pair o’ pretties, I must say. Like to fetch a pretty price too. Although I may ’ave to sail to Normandy to sell ’em safe-like.” He stuck out a demanding hand, knife still poised in the other. “Let’s ’ave ’em.”
Sarah gulped down a lump of fear. “As mentioned, he has changed his mind about selling those.”
“Too late, maid’n. I’m ’ere now and I’ll ’ave what I come fer.” He smirked at her. “Or I could kill ’im and take the bag and you in the bargain.”
Sarah felt the blood drain from her face.
“Y-you have not shown us the money yet,” Mr. During faltered, clearly trying to forestall the man.
“Ain’t ’ee precious. I ain’t paying up front fer something that ain’t yers and may take a great deal of time and effort to sell. I do the work, I get the pay. Now, if ’ee promised more such bounty I might be persuaded to strike a deal.”
“I already made a deal with your associate, Mr. Mutter. He said you’d give me a fair price.”
“Oh, Mutter is much more generous than I am. Always ’as been.”
Snatching the candlesticks from During’s impotent hands, the man shoved them into the case, then turned and sauntered away with it.
What should they do? Whatcouldthey do?
During hung his head. “I was prepared to hang to save my family. After this I’ll still hang, and for nothing. My poor mamma.”
“Wait!” Sarah called after the retreating figure, desperate to stop the man, although uncertain what to say. “If you take those, we’ll have no choice but to report you to the authorities. It won’t take them long to track you down.”
The man paused and turned his head as if considering her words.
Emboldened, she added, “If you leave without them, we shan’t tell a soul you were ever here.”
He turned all the way around to face them. Then began walking back to the cave.
Sarah’s momentary relief faded with each step that brought the man nearer, and she saw more clearly the look on his face.
The murderous look.
“How good of ’ee to think of me,” he said, lip curled. “And yer right; can’t have ’ee blabbing to the authorities. Not till I’ve a chance to unload these lovelies.” He stepped inside the cave and set the bag at his feet.
Before Sarah could guess what the man intended, he gripped her wrist and twisted her arm behind her.
Mr. During made to lunge forward, but the brute stopped him with a fierce command. “Stop or I’ll slit ’er throat.”
Sarah felt cold steel against her neck.
Mr. During raised both hands in surrender and stepped back.
“Good. Yer cleverer than ’ee look.”
The smuggler then wrenched Sarah’s other hand behind her back and began tying them together with a length of thin, coarse rope. “Never reckoned there’d be a lady present, so only brought enough for one. Good job there’s a hook here, driven into the stone, see? Handy for securing a boat fer unloading, or a sunken line o’ barrels, or a loose-lipped female.”
Securing the rope, he said to During, “Don’t like killing ladies if I can help it. But if she stays here long enough, the tide’ll do the deed fer me.”
Terror jolting her, Sarah shouted, “Go, Selwyn, run! Get help.”
He blinked, expression tormented, then his pale face cleared with resolve. “I shan’t leave you alone with him.”
“Ain’t we gallant all of a sudden-like?” the smuggler scoffed. “Truth is, she ain’t getting free and neither are ’ee.” He lifted his knife, then paused. “First let’s move this foine bag out o’ the way, so it don’t get stained with blood.” He bent and picked up the case again, moving it just outside the mouth of the cave.
Then he turned back and raised his knife.
Bile burned the back of Sarah’s mouth.Lord, have mercy.This was the end unless God chose to intervene. Her family would grieve her loss, but they would manage without her, despite the self-importance she’d worn like a medal of valor since Papa’s death.God, forgive me. Please accept my soulfor Jesus’s sake. . ..
